In the course of the week main as much as the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ seventh straight AFC Championship Recreation, a participant, who was not on the earlier six squads, mentioned he had a chip on his shoulder.

“This recreation means a bit of bit extra to me,” Chiefs extensive receiver Xavier Worthy mentioned.

The rookie may’ve been a part of the Buffalo Payments, the group the Chiefs defeated within the thrilling 32-29 recreation that despatched them to their third straight Tremendous Bowl.

However in a curious transfer, the Payments traded their 2024 first-round choose (twenty eighth general), fourth-round choose (133rd general) and seventh-round choose (248th general) to the Chiefs for his or her first-round choose (thirty second general), third-round choose (ninety fifth general) and seventh-round choose (221st general) in the course of the first day of the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I really feel it’s signal they didn’t need me,” Worthy mentioned.

Possibly the Payments ought to’ve needed Worthy.

Whereas the quickest participant ever on the 2024 NFL Mix led all gamers within the AFC Championship recreation with six catches for 85 yards, the receiver the Payments drafted within the second spherical, Keon Coleman, had only one catch for 12.

Worthy additionally was the Chiefs’ third-leading rusher with 16 yards on two carries.

“I’m completely satisfied for Xavier,” Chiefs common supervisor Brett Veach mentioned. “He’s an awesome participant.”

Worthy solely had one catch within the second half, nevertheless it was a vital one.

His 23-yard reception, which tight finish Travis Kelce helped clear area for, gave the Chiefs a primary and objective and put Harrison Butker in place for the game-winning 35-yard discipline objective.

His first half was much more spectacular. With 6:12 left within the second quarter, his 11-yard landing catch vs. Damar Hamlin gave the Chiefs a 14-10 lead.

He had two different catches on that scoring drive, together with a five-yard seize on the play previous to his rating.

On the Chiefs’ subsequent offensive possession — wherein the Chiefs had been put in good discipline place by a 41-yard Nikko Remigo punt return — he had his most thrilling spotlight: he wrestled with defensive again Cole Bishop for a 26-yard catch. Patrick Mahomes ran the landing in three performs later.

Worthy will not be solely a distinction maker, however he additionally gives nice worth.

He’s on a four-year, $13.8 million rookie deal.

However Worthy didn’t all the time seem like he’d be so useful. After scoring two touchdowns in Week One, he went by a stoop earlier than breaking out towards the Payments on Nov. 17.

He had 4 catches for 61 yards and a landing and one rush for seven yards throughout that 30-21 Payments victory, which represents the Chiefs’ lone loss this season when their starters performed.

That breakout efficiency got here after Worthy had not had greater than 50 yards since a Sept. 29 recreation vs the Los Angeles Chargers.

However Worthy has continued to develop and mature, displaying Veach’s foresight in buying and selling as much as choose him.

“We persist with our board. We’ve got a plan and we imagine in it,” Veach mentioned. “Xavier was a man we actually liked and had been obsessed with, and we had been lucky to go up there and get him.”

Now Veach, Worthy and the remainder of the Chiefs are poised to make historical past.

No different back-to-back champion within the Tremendous Bowl period has made it again to the sport for a 3rd straight yr.

“It’s a tremendous achievement,” Chiefs proprietor Clark Hunt mentioned.

And in the event that they win Tremendous Bowl LIX, they’ll obtain the primary three-peat in fashionable NFL historical past.